Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO Closed Yesterday Due to 3-Foot Snowdrifts Just in time for fall, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, closed yesterday morning as wintry conditions brought snowdrifts up to 3-FEET deep. The highest paved road in Colorado was closed at Many Parks Curve, about 7 miles from the east entrances and Colorado River Trailhead, 10 miles from the Grand Lake Entrance. The road reopened later that […] SnowBrains | September 21, 2021 1 Comment
Sequoia National Park, CA Closed Due to Wildfire The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9, grew significantly yesterday. The complex is comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire. Sequoia National Park is closed to the public, and employees that reside inside the park have been evacuated. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but serious air quality impacts are possible. The KNP […] Fire Firebrains | September 16, 2021 0 Comments
Park City Mountain Resort, UT, Permanently Closes Backcountry Gate After Avalanche Fatalities Following two out-of-bounds avalanche fatalities last season, Park City Mountain Resort, UT, has decided to permanently close the backcountry gate through which the victims left the resort. The closure of the popular gate at the top of the Ninety-Nine 90 chairlift brings to an end the direct chairlift access to the Park City ridgeline. On January 30th, 2021, a skier […] Industry News AvyBrains | August 16, 2021 0 Comments
Mudslide Buries Colorado’s I-70 Under 5-Feet of Debris Causing ‘Hard Closure’ The infamous I-70, right through the heart of many of Colorado’s ski areas, closed twice over the weekend due to flood warnings and significant mudslides. Related: Colorado Proposing Shuttle Service Along I-70 The road through Glenwood Springs was under a ‘hard closure’ through at least Sunday night due to a mudslide eighty feet wide and five feet deep in places. […] SnowBrains | June 28, 2021 0 Comments
Area Near Yellowstone National Park, MT Closed Following Bear Mauling Near Campground The Custer Gallatin National Forest implemented an emergency public safety closure yesterday following a bear mauling near Bakers Hole Campground, north of West Yellowstone, Montana. EMERGENCY CLOSURE – Bear Mauling near Baker’s Hole Campground – Effective immediately all Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands from the boundary of the town of West Yellowstone heading north to the Transfer Station Road […] SnowBrains | April 16, 2021 1 Comment
PHOTOS: Huge Rock Slide on HWY 50 Near Echo Summit Closed Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort, CA A huge rock slide caused the closure of Highway 50 on Friday, about 12 miles outside Lake Tahoe, CA. The slide in El Dorado County, was east of Echo Summit and also caused Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort to close for the day. Sierra will remain closed for the day due to uncertainty with HWY 50’s reopening. Closing weekend is full of […] SnowBrains | April 12, 2021 0 Comments
Whistler Blackcomb, BC Will Not Reopen This Winter After Forced COVID Closure On Monday 29th March 2021, Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia (BC), Canada, was ordered to temporarily close until April 19th due to a spike in COVID-19 in the local community. Whistler was already scheduled to close for the season on April 19th, with Blackcomb closing on May 24th. However, in a press release yesterday, Vail Resorts announced that the winter […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 31, 2021 0 Comments
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC Closed Today Due to COVID Related Staff Shortages Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC, announced yesterday that they will be closed today (Wednesday, March 31st, 2021). Due to covid-19 related circumstances, they will not have enough staff to open the mountain. On Monday 29th March 2021, the Province of British Columbia made an announcement enacting new restrictions in order to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 within the Province. The announcement […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 31, 2021 0 Comments
Whistler Blackcomb, BC Ordered to Close For 3-Weeks Due To COVID-19 Outbreak Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia (BC), Canada, was ordered to temporarily close at midnight last night due to a spike in COVID-19 in the local community. The resort will remain closed until April 19th. We were just informed today by the Province of British Columbia that Whistler Blackcomb has been ordered to close as of midnight tonight. We would like […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 30, 2021 0 Comments
Grand Teton National Park, WY Closes Portion of Backcountry Area to Prevent Waking Grizzly Conflicts Grand Teton National Park has closed a portion of a popular backcountry skiing area, 25 Short, to keep visitors and waking grizzly bears safe. Only a portion of the popular backcountry skiing area is closed. The peak, unnamed 9975, remains open with ridgeline access to Turkey Chute, Chute the Moon, and other Avalanche Canyon routes. Most of these can be accessed […] Backcountry Dominic Gawel | March 25, 2021 0 Comments
Alta, Snowbird, and Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT Into 3rd Day of Closure Due to Avalanche Threat With five-feet of snow since the beginning of the week, Alta, Snowbird, and Little Cottonwood Canyon (Hwy 210) remained closed for the second consecutive day yesterday due to the serious threat of avalanches. There is no estimated time of opening as the resorts enter the third day of closure while UDOT and resort crews battle to make the area safe. Today, […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 18, 2021 0 Comments
UK’s Largest Ski Tour Operator Cancels All Holidays For The Season Due to Covid-19, UK’s largest ski tour operator, Crystal, announced it won’t be operating for any holidays this season. The company is currently reaching out to its customers discussing various options for those who’ve already purchased services. They’re offering incentives as well as refunds or cancellations. In spite of the recent news, the company is still seeing high demand for next […] Industry News Nick Retterer | February 17, 2021 0 Comments
February Opening for French Ski Resorts ‘Seems Highly Improbable’ | Government Says ‘This Winter is a Write-Off’ The much-hoped-for reopening of ski resorts in France has been delayed yet again due to covid-19. The Tourism Minister told the industry that this winter would be a write-off. The government announced yesterday that ski lifts would not be allowed to open from February 1, a date given by the government for a possible easing of restrictions, and a “reopening in […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 21, 2021 0 Comments
Ski Resorts in France and Germany to Remain Closed Until Potentially Mid-February The much-hoped-for reopening of ski resorts in France and Germany has been delayed due to escalating covid-19 cases in the countries. The French government has decided to postpone the opening of ski resorts in France due to the rise in new Covid cases and hospitalizations in the past weeks. The government announced they would look at the issue again on […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 8, 2021 0 Comments
Hunter Mountain, NY Closed Yesterday as Several Ski Patrollers Took Off Work Due to Covid-19 Hunter Mountain ski resort in the Catskills, NY, was closed yesterday because several ski patrollers had to take off work due to covid-19 precautions. Related: The SnowBrains Podcast – Episode #2 – Are Ski Resorts Safe To Visit During COVID-19? In a Facebook post by the Vail Resorts owned resort, the ski area said employees and guests’ safety are their […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 6, 2021 0 Comments
Andorra the Latest in Europe to Close its Ski Resorts Until January Scheduled to start their season on Friday 4th December 2020, Andorra has decided to postpone the reopening of its ski resorts until early January 2021. “It is a difficult and painful decision, but from a health point of view, it is better to postpone the opening of ski resorts to January.” – head of Andorran government Xavier Espot The government […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 8, 2020 0 Comments
Trespassing Backcountry Skiers Cause Closure of Major Rogers Pass Ski Area A popular backcountry ski area off Rogers Pass, BC, has been temporarily closed after skiers were witnessed entering an adjacent prohibited area. Related: The Importance of Understanding the Winter Permit System on Rogers Pass, BC Backcountry skiers were seen entering the winter prohibited area Macdonald West Shoulder on December 3rd, 2020. The next day Parks Canada temporarily closed NRC Gully trailhead […] Backcountry SnowBrains | December 7, 2020 0 Comments
Ski Resorts in France to Remain Closed Until January French President Emmanuel Macron said in a national TV address yesterday that the country’s ski resorts will not be allowed to open for Christmas and New Year holidays. Macron said coronavirus risks made it “impossible” to allow winter sports to resume quickly. Related: Italy Seeking Support of Neighboring Countries to Ban Skiing Over Christmas The President will consult with neighboring countries […] SnowBrains | November 25, 2020 0 Comments
Yosemite National Park, CA Announces Glacier Point and Tioga Roads are Closed for the Season Yosemite National Park, CA announces Glacier Point and Tioga Roads are closed to all vehicular traffic for the winter season. Glacier Point and Tioga Roads typically close each fall and remain closed through the winter season. These roads reopen each spring when weather and road conditions are safe for vehicular traffic. Related: Badger Pass, California’s Oldest Ski Area Will Not Open this Winter Due to […] SnowBrains | November 23, 2020 0 Comments
Surfing Banned Indefinitely at Nazaré Due to Health Concerns Caused by Crowding Portugal’s National Health Commission has banned surfing at Nazaré after tens of thousands of spectators flocked to the beach to watch what is being referred to as ‘The Swell of the Century’. Related: VIDEO: Swell of the Century | Best Day Ever at Nazaré in Glorious 4k Slow Motion The ban, effective immediately and indefinitely, was a difficult decision for […] Surf SwellBrains | November 5, 2020 0 Comments